Aldebaran Resources Inc. (“
Aldebaran” or the
“
Company”) (
TSXV:
ALDE) (
OTCQX: ADBRF) is
pleased to report the discovery of a new high-grade gold zone at
the Altar copper gold project located in San Juan, Argentina. The
Company made the discovery in hole QDM-22-45 (assays partially
reported in Tables 1 and 2), which is targeting the North extension
of the Radio Porphyry copper-gold target and was drilled beneath
the current resource for the QDM Gold deposit (See Table 3).
QDM-22-45 is still in progress.
Highlights
- A significant
high-grade gold discovery has been made beneath the existing QDM
Gold deposit
- QDM-22-45
returned 14.9 m of 19.08 g/t Au, 12.28 g/t Ag, and 0.23% Cu
- Including 9.45 m
of 27.84 g/t Au, 18.46 g/t Ag, and 0.24% Cu
- Including 1.65 m
of 98.7 g/t Au, 19.40 g/t Ag, and 0.27% Cu
- The high-grade
gold interval is surrounded by a much wider envelope of highly
altered and anomalous gold mineralization, typical of the
mineralization making up the QDM Gold deposit
- Follow-up
drilling will be required to test the extent of this new
discovery
Dr. Kevin B. Heather, Chief Geological
Officer of Aldebaran, commented as follows: “This is
by far the highest-grade, gold-dominated intercept we have
encountered at the Altar project to date. The epithermal style of
this mineralization and associated alteration, along with its
spatial relationship to the QDM Gold deposit, suggests that it may
be a high-grade “feeder-structure” to the larger, lower-grade,
disseminated QDM Gold style mineralization currently reported in
the resource. Clearly this intercept, which is made up of multiple
multi-gram assay intervals, warrants additional follow-up drilling
to determine its potential size and geometry, and opens up the
possibility of finding additional higher-grade feeder
structures.”
John Black, Chief Executive Officer of
Aldebaran, commented as follows: “We normally don’t
report partial results from a drill hole, however due to the
high-grades associated with this interval we felt it appropriate to
do so. We know that the Altar project has the potential to host
high-grade copper and copper-gold mineralization, however this is
the first time we’ve observed this type of high-grade gold
mineralization. More drilling is required to better understand the
controls on this new gold zone. This adds an exciting new aspect to
the Altar and QDM/Radio story.”
Discussion of Results:
Drill Hole QDM-22-45 is
currently being drilled at an azimuth of 133 degrees and dip of -70
degrees. The hole was designed to explore for the northern
extension of known porphyry mineralization at the Radio Porphyry
target. Currently the Company has received assays for the first 457
metres of hole QDM-22-45. The top 240 m of the hole intersected an
intrusion breccia consisting of dacite porphyry matrix with
andesite fragments. At approximately 240 m depth the hole
intersected the contact between this dacite intrusion breccia, and
the andesite wall rocks. Immediately after the contact, a
hydrothermal breccia containing up to 10% sulphides (primarily
pyrite) and fine chalcedonic quartz hosts the high-grade gold
mineralization (Photo 1). The hydrothermal breccia is bounded
downhole by a dacite porphyry dyke which is also well mineralized.
Andesite host rocks continue down to the 457 m mark. From 330 m to
358 m a broad fault zone was intersected. Beneath this fault, an
abrupt change is observed with alteration and veining increasing in
intensity as the hole gets deeper and copper values increasing.
There are no reportable copper intervals in the first 457 m of the
hole, which was expected, as the Radio Porphyry target in this area
is known to be deeper.
Table 1 below provides more detail on the
mineralized intercepts encountered in the first 457 m of drill hole
QDM-22-45. The location of the reported drill hole is indicated in
Figure 1 and Figure 2. Figure 3 displays a cross section of
QDM-22-45.
Table 1 – 2022 Altar Drill Hole Results |
Au (g/t)Cut-off |
From(m) |
To(m) |
Interval(m) |
Au(g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cu(%) |
Mo(ppm) |
As(ppm) |
AuEq (g/t) |
QDM-22-045 |
0.3 |
|
197.00 |
240.10 |
43.10 |
0.39 |
0.60 |
0.07 |
2 |
137 |
0.50 |
1.0 |
|
240.10 |
255.00 |
14.90 |
19.08 |
12.28 |
0.23 |
6 |
363 |
19.57 |
5.0 |
incl. |
241.20 |
250.65 |
9.45 |
27.84 |
18.46 |
0.24 |
6 |
338 |
28.43 |
25.0 |
incl. |
249.00 |
250.65 |
1.65 |
98.70 |
19.40 |
0.27 |
15 |
453 |
99.36 |
0.3 |
|
255.00 |
297.40 |
42.40 |
0.56 |
0.42 |
0.08 |
1 |
124 |
0.69 |
The grades are uncut. AuEq values were calculated using copper,
gold, silver and molybdenum. Metal prices utilized for the
calculations are Cu = US$3.00/lb, Au = US$1,400/oz, Ag = US$18/oz,
and Mo = US$10/lb. No adjustments were made for recovery as the
project is an early-stage exploration project and metallurgical
data to allow for estimation of recoveries is not yet available.
True width cannot be determined at this time due to limited
drilling. The formulas utilized to calculate equivalent values is
AuEq g/t = Au g/t + Ag g/t / 77.7778 + Cu % * 1.4694 + Mo ppm
/ 2041.7092. |
Table 2 - Detailed Assay Results for
the High-grade Gold Intercept in Hole QDM-22-045 |
From(m) |
To(m) |
Length(m) |
Au(g/t) |
Ag(g/t) |
Cu(%) |
Mo(ppm) |
240.10 |
241.20 |
1.10 |
2.11 |
1.50 |
0.31 |
4 |
241.20 |
243.00 |
1.80 |
13.50 |
17.90 |
0.16 |
6 |
243.00 |
245.00 |
2.00 |
11.10 |
8.80 |
0.38 |
6 |
245.00 |
247.00 |
2.00 |
6.97 |
9.10 |
0.15 |
4 |
247.00 |
249.00 |
2.00 |
19.90 |
37.20 |
0.22 |
8 |
249.00 |
250.65 |
1.65 |
98.70 |
19.40 |
0.27 |
15 |
250.65 |
251.65 |
1.00 |
1.39 |
0.70 |
0.10 |
2 |
251.65 |
253.00 |
1.35 |
11.40 |
3.60 |
0.44 |
2 |
253.00 |
255.00 |
2.00 |
1.04 |
0.70 |
0.07 |
2 |
QDM Gold Deposit
The QDM gold deposit is primarily a gold-silver
deposit with minor associated copper. It consists of dominantly
sulphide mineralization with minor oxide (~10%) mineralization. The
resource estimate for QDM Gold is constrained using a conceptual
open pit (the northern margin of the conceptual pit is seen in
Figure 3). Mineralization at QDM Gold is primarily hosted in a
dacite intrusion. The majority of drilling completed at the QDM
gold deposit was done by Stillwater Mining in 2012 with relatively
shallow holes.
Table 3 - QDM Gold - Open Pit Mineral
Resource |
|
|
Average Grade |
Contained Metal |
Category |
Tonnes(Mt) |
Au(g/t) |
Ag(g/t) |
Cu(%) |
As(ppm) |
Au (M Oz) |
Ag (M Oz) |
Cu (M lbs) |
Measured |
15.8 |
0.81 |
3.59 |
0.06 |
168 |
0.41 |
1.83 |
21 |
Indicated |
4.2 |
0.68 |
3.74 |
0.06 |
164 |
0.09 |
0.50 |
5 |
Total M&I |
20.0 |
0.78 |
3.62 |
0.06 |
167 |
0.50 |
2.33 |
26 |
Inferred |
1.2 |
0.58 |
5.34 |
0.03 |
153 |
0.02 |
0.21 |
1 |
QDM Gold utilizes a 0.33 AuEq (US$13.17 NSR/t) cut-off grade for
sulphide mineralization and a 0.7 AuEq (US$13.17 NSR/t) cut-off
grade for oxide mineralization. |
Results Webinar, March 3 at 11:00 am
ET
Join Aldebaran on Thursday March 3, 11:00 am ET
for a live 6ix summit to review the promising initial drill results
from Altar’s 2022 drill campaign. The summit will include a
presentation from Chief Geological Officer, Dr. Kevin B. Heather
and CEO, John Black, will join for a live Q&A. Register for the
webinar here: https://my.6ix.com/j8uDby9O.
Project Update
The Company is currently drilling with four
drill rigs on the Altar project. Three are currently at the
QDM/Radio area, while the other is at Altar Central (See Figure 1).
The Company recently completed QDM-21-44 (total depth of 1,440.70
m) in the QDM/Radio area, and samples have now been sent to the
assay lab with results for the complete hole anticipated by the end
of March. QDM-21-44 encountered multiple challenges while in
progress, and deviated significantly from its original trajectory,
ultimately missing the intended target. QDM-22-45, QDM-22-46,
QDM-22-47 and ALD-22-220 are respectively 932.50 m, 997.90 m,
172.05 m, and 299.80 m deep at the time of this release. None of
the active holes (other than QDM-22-45) are testing the newly
discovered gold zone. The Company is evaluating options to follow
up on the new discovery and test the extents of mineralization.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical data contained in
this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Kevin B.
Heather, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc, Ph.D, FAusIMM, FGS, Chief Geological
Officer and director of Aldebaran, who serves as the qualified
person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument
43-101.
For further information, please consult
our website at
www.aldebaranresources.com or
contact:
Laura BrangwinInvestor Relations ManagerPhone:
+1 646 583-1404 Email: laura.brangwin@aldebaranresources.com
About Aldebaran Resources Inc.
Aldebaran is a mineral exploration company that
was spun out of Regulus Resources Inc. in 2018 and has the same
core management team. Aldebaran acquired the Rio Grande copper-gold
project located in Salta Province, Argentina from Regulus along
with several other early-stage projects in Argentina. Aldebaran
also has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Altar
copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina from Sibanye
Stillwater Limited. The Altar project hosts multiple porphyry
copper-gold deposits with potential for additional discoveries.
Altar forms part of a cluster of world-class porphyry copper
deposits which includes Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), El
Pachón (Glencore), and Los Azules (McEwen Copper). In March 2021
the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for
Altar, prepared by Independent Mining Consultants Inc. and based on
the drilling completed up to and including 2020. Aldebaran’s
primary focus is the Altar project with a view to discovering new
zones with higher-grade mineralization.
Sampling and Analytical Procedures
Altar follows systematic and rigorous sampling
and analytical protocols which meet and exceed industry standards.
These protocols are summarized below and are available on the
Aldebaran website at www.aldebaranresources.com. All drill holes
are diamond core holes with PQ, HQ or NQ core diameters. Drill core
is collected at the drill site where recovery and RQD (Rock Quality
Designation) measurements are taken before the core is boxed and
transported to the Altar camp facilities, a short distance away,
where the whole core is photographed under more optimum lighting
conditions and geological quick log is produced. The whole-core is
then marked and sampled into geological defined, systematic 1- to
2-metre sample intervals, unless the geologist determines the
presence of an important geological contact, which should not be
crossed. The whole-core is then cut-in-half with a diamond saw
blade, with half the sample retained in the core box for future
reference and the other half placed into a pre-labelled plastic
bag, sealed with a two plastic security zip ties, and labeled with
a unique sample number. The bagged samples are then placed into
larger plastic sacks and those sacks are sealed with another
plastic security zip tie and labelled for shipment. The sacks are
then placed onto wooden pallets and wrapped in plastic shrink-wrap
and stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified ALS
laboratory sample preparation facility located in Mendoza,
Argentina, where the samples are dried, crushed, and pulverized.
The resulting sample pulps are sent by batch to the ALS laboratory
in Lima for geochemical assay analysis, including a 30g fire assay
with an atomic absorption (AA) finish analysis for gold and a full
multi-acid digestion (4-acid) with ICP-AES analysis for other
elements. Samples with results that exceed maximum detection values
for gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish
and other elements of interest are re-analyzed using precise
ore-grade ICP analytical techniques. Aldebaran independently
inserts certified control standards (Super Certified Reference
Materials, SCRM’s), coarse field blanks, and duplicates into the
sample stream to monitor data quality. These standards are inserted
“blindly” to the laboratory in the sample sequence prior to
departure from the Aldebaran facilities.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements regarding Aldebaran,
including management's assessment of future-plans and operations,
may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable
securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran's control. Often,
but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does
not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements
that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Specifically, and without limitation, all
statements included in this press release that address activities,
events or developments that Aldebaran expects or anticipates will
or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and
development of the Altar project described herein, and management's
assessment of future plans and operations and statements with
respect to the completion of the anticipated exploration and
development programs, may constitute forward-looking statements
under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond
Aldebaran's control. These risks may cause actual financial and
operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements
to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such
forward-looking statements. Although Aldebaran believes that the
expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in
this press release are made as of the date hereof and Aldebaran
does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by
applicable securities law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26519322-e217-4af4-8e9a-84423c2ef99d
Figure 1 – Plan map showing drill collar
locations.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/986739a7-72fa-43b6-a66a-8684ccf673e8
Figure 2 – QDM/Radio plan map with
section line location.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/386f15ac-f2fb-4b86-a560-5afaa28cead6
Figure 3 - QDM-22-45 Cross Section -
Oblique Northeast View.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71522291-b3a8-4e53-9ee3-d701f63b5b62
Photo 1 - A selection of representative
samples showing the style of mineralization and alteration
associated with the 14.9 m high-grade gold intercept report in
drill hole QDM-22-45.
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